A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OMBUDS OFFICE FOR THE PIERCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

WHEREAS, The Washington State Democratic Central Committee (WSDCC) platform adopted June 13th, 2020 expresses our demand for police “to be held accountable for abusive practices” and for “courageous conversations in our communities and across the nation about the race- and class-based challenges we face in fostering trust in community-police relations” under Pillar #1, Criminal Justice Reform, and the spirit of holding police accountable for abusive practices and demanding courageous conversations in our communities is firmly established in the WSDCC platform and in resolutions passed at the State, County, and Local Party Organization levels; and

WHEREAS, in March 2020, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was involved in the racist profiling and unjust killing of Manuel Ellis by sworn Tacoma Police Department officers, exposing the County to significant reputational risk, litigation risk and financial exposure, as well as immeasurable community trauma; and in January of 2021, Sedrick Altheimer, a Black man working a newspaper delivery route in Tacoma, was subject to racist and classist profiling from then-incumbent Pierce County Sheriff, who believed he looked suspicious despite a lack of evidence, and resulting in a significant financial settlement paid by the County; and

WHEREAS, in January of 2025, a disciplinary report signed by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) Chief stated that the current Pierce County Sheriff, Keith Swank, a former SPD captain, “gave the people we serve reason to believe that you and the officers under your command would not treat them fairly and equitably, particularly given your rank,” and would have been fired for showing prejudice and making derogatory remarks toward people’s gender identity, political ideology and race, behavior that stands in stark opposition to established County Government policy and community values; and in January of 2025, Sheriff Swank suggested that under his command, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office would unlawfully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement actions in violation of our state’s Keep Washington Working Act; and

WHEREAS, an ombuds role can be empowered to be an advocate for good governance and entrusted with investigating and issuing reports concerning allegations of law and policy violations providing an evidentiary basis to support County Council action, as supported by multiple resolutions passed by the American Bar Association promoting the greater use of ombuds offices to receive, review, and resolve complaints involving public and private entities; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of an ombuds office is a fiscally conservative measure that will safeguard County funds by allowing for the resolution of complaints prior to litigation:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the 31st Legislative District Democrats, as one of the local party organizations representing Democrats in Pierce County, call upon the Pierce County Council and the Pierce County Executive to enact legislation creating an ombuds office with oversight of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 31st Legislative District Democrats encourage the Pierce County Council and the Executive to take all measures necessary to properly fund and staff the newly established office, and to assure that the office is executed equitably in accordance with community values, the Pierce County Charter, the Washington State Constitution, and the United States Constitution.